Additional Stories That Didn’t Make It Into the Book… But Are Every Bit as Wonderful and/or Weird!
ONE (MAKE THAT 6,800) FOR THE BOOKS
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OF THE NUMEROUS MEMORIALS HONORING PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WHICH ONE MAY HAVE BEEN GRANTED THE FINAL WORD?
As one of the most beloved and powerful presidents in U.S. history, there is no shortage of memorials and tributes commemorating Abraham Lincoln. From the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota to the shiny copper penny, the sixteenth president’s innumerable contributions to our country have been celebrated for well over a century. So, it should come as no surprise that historians have had no choice but to become a bit creative these days when honoring the former president.
On President’s Day of 2012, a group of historians unveiled a lofty tower of nearly 7,000 books to salute President Lincoln’s legacy. The imposing tower measures 34 feet tall and approximately eight feet around. The 6,800 books were assembled from a collection of the nearly 15,000 books that have been written about Lincoln. Other than Jesus Christ, no other individual in history has been written about more than Abraham Lincoln. The enormous conglomeration of books represents a wide range of publications geared toward all ages, ranging from scholarly textbooks and international best sellers to sticker books and coloring books. Fire marshals need not worry; the impressive tower is solely comprised of aluminum-covered replicas of the books, with the covers of the real books printed on them.
The towering stack of books soars through the middle of a spiral staircase in the lobby of the Petersen House, Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership. This is the house where Lincoln died after being shot across the street at the infamous Ford’s Theater. Deemed too weak to travel back to the White House, Lincoln was transported across the street to the former boarding house, where the owners welcomed a feeble Lincoln into their home. Lincoln died there the next morning.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW:
Where: The Petersen House: 516 10th Street NW, Washington, DC
Cost: A tour of the Petersen House is included with the purchase of a ticket to Ford’s Theater.
Pro Tip: Some of the books included in the Lincoln tower of books are available for purchase in the Petersen House’s gift shop.
Thing to Note: Visitors can also stand in the room where Lincoln died as well as see a number of exhibits displaying artifacts from the night of his assassination.
Covid Update: The Petersen House is currently closed due to Covid-19. Check out their virtual exhibit to learn more about its history.